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I grew up in Bucktown, a bustling community on the northwest side of Chicago. I was the younger of two children in a family of four. After graduating from Wells High School, I attended North Park College and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts. From an early age, I was attracted to the dark side of human nature, truly fascinated by what motivated good people to behave in bad ways. My books touch on both the grace and brutality of life. Currently, I live in River Grove, a suburb just outside of Chicago. My days and nights are mostly quiet ones, spent in the company of my two rescue cats, Zilly and H.K. and my dog Sammy, with an occasional night out with friends.
Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for Readers' Favorite
Phillipe Renault is a gentleman who has chosen to visit a New Orleans brothel. Renault wears a partial mask on his face to cover a disfigurement and believes nobody will be able to look past it. Madame Cheney attempts to provide Renault with several alternative girls to Lilah, but he knew she was the one he automatically felt a connection with. Despite being told she was a disagreeable person, Renault takes Lilah to his home. The first night, Lilah refuses to acknowledge Renault despite his attempts to impress her with his wealth. When Lilah reacts violently due to rose petals being on his bed, Renault allows her to stay in a guest room. Little does Renault realize, Lilah felt the same connection but was afraid of being harmed. When Renault sends for Lilah again, she arrives and falls deathly ill. While she is healing, Jennings, Renault’s servant, reveals a secret he knows regarding Lilah’s life in prostitution. Suzanne Smith addresses social issues in her story Lilah’s Limit.
Lilah’s Limit was an intriguing tale for me. I wasn’t able to predict how the story would unfold. My favorite aspect was the ability to see the emotional viewpoints of Renault, Jennings, and Lilah. When Lilah challenged Renault’s thoughts of what a gentleman was, I could understand the spark that he had about trying to make a prostitute into a life partner. It was obvious that Lilah didn’t actually choose to be a prostitute and that she was well-educated. Renault had written a book that impacted Lilah’s life, and I was curious as to why he didn’t attempt to discuss this. The end of the story was sweet and Jennings was an integral character despite not being one of the main characters. The pace of the story balances well with the vivid details Suzanne Smith gives the setting. I was clearly able to picture the inside of the carriage, what clothing each person wore, the house, and even the humid weather. My recommendation for this book would be for readers that enjoy a slow build-up to a romance. There is one mild love scene, but it is based on the emotional connection rather than the physical.
